Google adds AirDrop support to Pixel 9 series

Generally, People think Google’s update is pretty cool, it adds AirDrop to Pixel 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro Fold, enabling fast, secure file sharing with iPhones, You can see how to enable the feature.
Obviously, This is a big deal, because now You can share files with Your friends who have iPhones, without needing to use email or cloud links.
Normally, You would have to use a third-party app, but now You can just use AirDrop, it’s pretty simple.

Announcement

Apparently, We just found out that Google rolled out Quick Share for AirDrop on the new Pixel 9 lineup, The news was announced on Google’s X account on February 17, 2026, saying the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold can now send and receive files via AirDrop, which is a feature that used to be only on iOS.
Usually, You would need to have a Mac or an iPhone to use AirDrop, but now You can use it on Your Pixel 9 device, it’s a nice feature to have.
Basically, This means that You can share files with Your friends who have iPhones, without needing to use a computer or a cloud service.

How to enable AirDrop on a Pixel 9 device

Firstly, You need to Open Settings, then System, then Software updates, and install the latest Google Play System update, it’s easy to do.
Next, You go to Settings, then All services, then System services, then Quick Share extension, and apply any update for the extension, this will enable AirDrop on Your device.
Also, On the iPhone or iPad side, You need to set AirDrop visibility to Everyone for 10 minutes, so the temporary peer-to-peer connection can work, it’s a security feature.

Privacy and performance assurances

Fortunately, Google says the new feature keeps its privacy-first mindset, Files travel straight between the phones, no Google servers in the middle, so there’s no permanent log, this is good for Your privacy.
Moreover, Multiple encryption layers guard the content, and the peer-to-peer model gives speeds as fast as native AirDrop, this means that Your files are safe and will be transferred quickly.
Obviously, This is a big deal, because now You can share files with Your friends who have iPhones, without worrying about Your privacy.

Why this matters

Generally, For Android users, sharing photos, docs, or videos with iPhone friends used to need email, cloud links, or third-party apps, but now the Pixel 9 series makes it easy, You can just use AirDrop.
Usually, You would need to use a computer or a cloud service to share files, but now You can just use Your phone, it’s convenient.
Basically, This means that You can share files with Your friends who have iPhones, without needing to use a computer or a cloud service, it’s a nice feature to have.

Looking ahead

Apparently, Analysts think Google will later spread this to other Android phones, maybe via a universal Quick Share protocol, this would be a big deal.
Normally, You would need to have a Pixel 9 device to use AirDrop, but maybe soon You will be able to use it on other Android devices, it’s exciting.
Generally, This means that more people will be able to use AirDrop, and it will make it easier to share files with friends who have iPhones.

Conclusion

Obviously, In short, the Quick Share-AirDrop bridge gives Pixel 9 owners a native, secure, and fast way to share files with Apple devices, solving a long-standing inconvenience for mixed-platform households, it’s a nice feature to have.
Generally, You can now share files with Your friends who have iPhones, without needing to use email or cloud links, it’s convenient.
Apparently, This is a big deal, because now You can share files with Your friends who have iPhones, without worrying about Your privacy, it’s a nice feature to have.
*Manisha Priyadarshini contributed to the original reporting, which is nice.*